Top 7 Reasons to Celebrate Today

Over a year ago, I wrote a legal memo, posted on this site, explaining why President Obama had no obligation to defend the Defense of Marriage Act. In fact, it was his right as president and, some could argue, his obligation, to refuse to defend a law that is clearly unconstitutional.

Well, I know it's uncouth to crow victory, but with all the celebrating going on today. I'm going to join in. I hope you can too.

Here are the top 7 Reasons to celebrate today's announcement that the Obama administration will no longer defend DOMA's constitutionality in court:

1. The President's admission that DOMA is no longer constitutionally defensible lends huge weight to arguments in court that DOMA should be struck down.

2. DOMA now will only be defended by right wing intervenors, revealing the legislation for what it is: an instrument of hate and exclusion supported by bigots.

3. Right wing groups will have to spend money to defend DOMA -- draining their pockets which evens the score (previously, equality groups paid big money to bring constitutional challenges while the government paid for the defense of DOMA)

4. My tax dollars and yours will no longer be used to actively undermine the right to legal equality.

5. Those of us who ever felt warm and fuzzy about Obama can feel so again for a brief glorious moment.

6. Eric holder finally did something good for humankind.

7. It's always a good idea to celebrate when somebody does the right thing.

I'm going to go break out the champagne...